Carton For Containers

ABSTRACT

A carrier for at least partially holding a plurality of articles can comprise a plurality of panels that can comprise at least a top panel, a side panel, and a bottom panel. A plurality of article receiver features can be disposed in at least the top panel in at least a first row and a second row. The first row can comprise at least one more article receiver feature than the second row. Each article receiver feature of the plurality of article receiver features can be for at least partially receiving a respective article of the plurality of articles. A retention feature can extend in at least one of the side panel and the bottom panel. The retention feature can be for at least partially retaining at least one article that is at least partially received in a respective one of the article receiving features in the first row.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional application of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 14/876,250, filed on Oct. 6, 2015, which claims the benefit ofU.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/122,022, filed on Oct. 8,2014.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

The disclosures of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/876,250, whichwas filed on Oct. 6, 2015, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.62/122,022, which was filed on Oct. 8, 2014, is hereby incorporated byreference for all purposes as if presented herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure generally relates to carriers for holding anddispensing beverage containers or other types of articles.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In general, one aspect of the disclosure is directed to a carrier for atleast partially holding a plurality of articles. The carrier cancomprise a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around aninterior of the carrier. The plurality of panels can comprise at least atop panel, a side panel, and a bottom panel. A plurality of articlereceiver features can be disposed in at least the top panel in at leasta first row and a second row. The first row can comprise at least onemore article receiver feature than the second row. Each article receiverfeature of the plurality of article receiver features can be for atleast partially receiving a respective article of the plurality ofarticles. A retention feature can extend in at least one of the sidepanel and the bottom panel. The retention feature can be for at leastpartially retaining at least one article that is at least partiallyreceived in a respective one of the article receiving features in thefirst row.

In another aspect, the disclosure is generally directed to a blank forforming a carrier for holding a plurality of articles. The blank cancomprise A plurality of panels comprising at least a top panel, a sidepanel, and a bottom panel. A plurality of article receiver features canbe disposed in at least the top panel in at least a first row and asecond row. The first row can comprise at least one more articlereceiver feature than the second row, and each article receiver featureof the plurality of article receiver features can be for at leastpartially receiving a respective article of the plurality of articleswhen the carrier is formed from the blank. A retention feature canextend in at least one of the side panel and the bottom panel. Theretention feature can be for at least partially retaining at least onearticle that is at least partially received in a respective one of thearticle receiving features in the first row when the carrier is formedfrom the blank.

In another aspect, the disclosure is generally directed to a packagecomprising a carrier having substantially open ends. The carrier cancomprise a plurality of panels that extends at least partially around aninterior of the carrier. The package further can comprise a plurality ofarticles at least partially disposed in the interior of the carrier. Thearticles of the plurality of articles can be arranged in at least afirst row and a second row, and the first row can comprise at least onemore article than the second row.

In another aspect, the disclosure is directed to a method of forming apackage comprising obtaining a plurality of articles and a blankcomprising a plurality of panels, and arranging the articles of theplurality of articles in at least a first row and a second row. Thefirst row can comprise at least one more article than the second row.The method also can comprise forming a carrier from the blank bywrapping the plurality of panels at least partially around the pluralityof articles. The carrier can have substantially open ends.

Other aspects, features, and details of the present disclosure can bemore completely understood by reference to the following detaileddescription of exemplary embodiments taken in conjunction with thedrawings and from the appended claims.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate the above stated advantages andother advantages and benefits of various additional embodiments readingthe following detailed description of the embodiments with reference tothe below-listed drawing figures. Further, the various features of thedrawings discussed below are not necessarily drawn to scale. Dimensionsof various features and elements in the drawings may be expanded orreduced to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an exterior surface of a blank used to form acarrier according to a first embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a detail view of a portion of the blank of FIG. 1 showingretention features according to the first embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a package including the carrier formedfrom the blank of FIG. 1 and nested containers according to the firstembodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is an end view of the package of FIG. 3.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are bottom views of the package of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of an exterior surface of a blank used to form acarrier according to a second embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of an exterior surface of a blank used to form acarrier according to a third embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of an exterior surface of a blank used to form acarrier according to a fourth embodiment of the disclosure.

Corresponding parts are designated by corresponding reference numbersthroughout the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The present disclosure generally relates to various features for cartonsor carriers that contain articles such as containers, bottles, cans,etc. The articles can be used for packaging food and beverage products,for example. The articles can be made from materials suitable incomposition for packaging the particular food or beverage item, and thematerials include, but are not limited to, aluminum and/or other metals;glass; plastics such as PET, LDPE, LLDPE, HDPE, PP, PS, PVC, EVOH, andNylon; and the like, or any combination thereof.

Cartons or carriers according to the present disclosure can accommodatearticles of any shape. For the purpose of illustration and not for thepurpose of limiting the scope of the disclosure, the following detaileddescription describes beverage containers (e.g., plastic beveragebottles) as disposed within the carrier embodiments. In thisspecification, the terms “inner,” “interior,” “outer,” “exterior,”“lower,” “bottom,” “upper,” and “top” indicate orientations determinedin relation to fully erected and upright cartons.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an exterior surface 2 of a blank 3, used toform a carrier 5 (FIG. 3) according to a first embodiment of thedisclosure. In the illustrated embodiment, the carrier 5 is a carrierhaving generally open ends 6, 8 that wraps around the containers C(e.g., the carrier 5 may be referred to as a wrap-around carton orcarrier). The carrier 5 could be otherwise shaped and arranged such thatthe ends 6, 8 are at least partially closed such as by end flaps (notshown) or other closing mechanisms. The carrier 5 can be used to house aplurality of articles such as containers C (FIGS. 3-6) to form a package7 (FIG. 3). In the illustrated embodiment, the containers C are beveragebottles having a wide bottom B and a narrow top or neck N including acap CP. The carrier 5 can be sized to house eight containers in a singlelayer in a “nested” arrangement having two outer rows of three bottlesper row and one inner row of two bottles. In one embodiment, the nestingof the containers C in the carrier 5 allows the carrier to hold thecontainers in more than two rows since the outer rows can help retainthe inner row that is nested with the outer rows. In the illustratedembodiment, the carrier 5 can include retention features includingarticle receiver features 9 for receiving the upper portions N of thecontainers C and bottom retention features 11 for engaging the bottomportions B of the containers C that are disposed adjacent the sides ofthe carrier 5. In addition, the carrier 5 can include one or twohandles, generally indicated at 13, for grasping and carrying thecarrier.

Various other nested bottle arrangements could be used with the firstembodiment, or other illustrated and non-illustrated embodiments of thedisclosure. Alternative nested pack arrangements can include anarrangement with eleven bottles with two outer rows of four bottles perrow and one inner row of three bottles, an arrangement with ten bottleswith two outer rows of three bottles per row and two inner rows of twobottles per row, etc. In one embodiment, such nesting arrangements canbe considered “internal nesting arrangements” since the interior row(s)of containers are generally shorter than the outer rows of containers(e.g., the outer rows have one more container each than the innerrow(s)). Other nested or non-nested arrangements of the containers couldbe provided without departing from the disclosure. For example, theinner row(s) could be longer than the outer rows in an alternativeembodiment. In another embodiment, an arrangement with thirteencontainers can have two outer rows with three bottles per row, two innerrows with two bottles per row, and a central row with three bottlesdisposed between the two inner rows, for example. In the differentarrangements, the containers can be nested in an at least partiallystaggered arrangement so that the containers in the inner row(s) aregenerally offset from the containers in the outer rows, as generallyshown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The containers C could be otherwise arrangedwithout departing from the disclosure.

The blank 3 has a longitudinal axis L1 and a lateral axis L2. In theillustrated embodiment, the blank 3 comprises a top panel 20 foldablyconnected to a first side panel 22 at a first lateral fold line 24, afirst bottom panel 26 foldably connected to the first side panel 22 at asecond lateral fold line 28, a second side panel 30 foldably connectedto the top panel 20 at a third lateral fold line 32, and a second bottompanel 34 foldably connected to the second side panel 30 at a fourthlateral fold line 36. In the illustrated embodiment, the first bottompanel 26 includes a first bottom bevel panel 38 defined by lateral foldlines 28 and 40 and having an intermediate fold line 41. The secondbottom panel 34 includes a second bottom bevel panel 42 defined bylateral fold lines 36 and 44 and having an intermediate fold line 45.The lateral fold lines 40, 44 can include multiple segments each,wherein a longitudinal cut is disposed at each end of each segment. Inthe illustrated embodiment, the first side panel 22 can include a firsttop bevel panel 46 defined by lateral fold lines 24 and 47 and having anintermediate fold line 48, and the second side panel 30 can include asecond top bevel panel 49 defined by lateral fold lines 32 and 50 andhaving an intermediate fold line 51. The blank 3 could be otherwiseshaped, arranged, positioned, and/or configured without departing fromthe disclosure. For example, any of the bevel panels 38, 42, 46, 49could be omitted or otherwise shaped, arranged, positioned, and/orconfigured without departing from the disclosure.

The first bottom panel 26, which is the inner bottom panel in theassembled carrier 5, includes cutouts forming primary female lockingedges 52 that are shaped and positioned to engage primary male lockingtab projections 54 on the second bottom panel 34. The first bottom panel26 also includes slits 56 shaped and positioned to receive outersecondary locking tab projections 58 of the second bottom panel 34. Asshown in FIG. 1, the slits 56 can define tabs that are foldablyconnected to the first bottom panel 26. In the illustrated embodiment,the second bottom panel 34, which is the outer bottom panel in thecompleted carrier 5, includes a lateral fold line 60, which can beinterrupted by the slits that define the primary male locking tabprojections 54. In addition, each of the secondary locking tabprojections 58 can include a lateral fold line 62. Although the lockingelements of the blank 3 are illustrated to demonstrate a particularbottom panel locking arrangement suitable for use with the carrier 5, itis understood that any alternative form of bottom panel lockingstructure may be employed without departing from the disclosure.Additionally, or alternatively, the bottom panels 26, 34 could be gluedtogether.

As shown in FIG. 1, the article receiver features 9 are top openings 9that can be formed in the top panel 20 in three rows R1, R2, R3, in oneembodiment. In other embodiments, the top openings 9 can be formed indifferent arrangements to accommodate the different containerarrangements described above. The outer rows R1, R3 can include threetop openings 9 each, and the inner row R2 can include two top openings 9that are offset from the top openings 9 in the outer rows R1, R3. In theillustrated embodiment, the top openings 9 in the inner row R2 areoffset from the remaining openings so that each of the top openings 9 inthe inner row R2 has a center A that is disposed generally halfwaybetween two of the top openings 9 in the outer rows R1, R3. Accordingly,the top openings 9 in the inner row R2 are positioned with respect tothe top openings 9 in the outer rows R1, R3 so that the openings are ina staggered arrangement and the containers C that are received in thetop openings 9 in the inner row R2 are nested with the containers C thatare received in the top openings 9 in the outer rows R1, R3 (FIGS. 3 and4). In one embodiment, the top openings 9 in the outer rows R1, R3 canpartially interrupt the respective lateral fold lines 24, 32, and cuts63 can extend in the top bevel panels 46, 49 adjacent the outeropenings. Any of the article receiver features or top openings 9 and/orthe rows R1, R2, R3 could be omitted or could be otherwise positioned,shaped, configured, and/or arranged without departing from thedisclosure. For example, the article receiver features could comprisetabs, flaps, and/or other features in addition to or instead of the topopenings 9.

In one embodiment, the bottom retention features 11 in the first sidepanel 22 and the first bottom panel 26 are shown in detail in FIG. 1A;however, the bottom retention features 11 in the second side panel 30and the second bottom panel 34 are similar or substantially identical tothe bottom retention features 11 in the first side panel 22 and thefirst bottom panel 26 as shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 1A,the bottom retention features 11 can include two retention tabs 64adjacent a respective bottom or corner opening 66 for each of thecontainers C in the outer row R1. Each of the retention tabs 64 can befoldably connected to the bottom bevel panel 38 along a respective foldline 68 and can include V-shaped folds 70. A hook-shaped cut 72 canextend from each of the retention tabs 64 into the first side panel 22for allowing additional folding and/or flexing of the tabs 64 and/or theside panel 22 to accommodate the respective container C.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 1A, the bottom retention features 11 can includea corner retainer 74 at each end of the bottom panels 26, 34. As shownin FIG. 1A, each of the corner retainers 74 can include a retentionpanel 76 foldably connected to the bottom bevel panel 38 along alongitudinal fold line 78, a first gusset panel 80 foldably connected tothe retention panel 76 along a lateral fold line 82, and a second gussetpanel 84 foldably connected to the first gusset panel along alongitudinal fold line 86. Each of the second gusset panels 84 can befoldably connected to the first bottom panel 26 along a respectiveoblique fold line 88 and can be separable from the first bottom panel 26along a respective cut line 90. Each of the corner retainers 74 can atleast partially define a cutout 92 in one embodiment. Any of the bottomretention features 11, including the retention tabs 64, the corneropenings 66, and/or the corner retainers 74 could be omitted or could beotherwise shaped, arranged, positioned, and/or configured withoutdeparting from the disclosure.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 1A, each of the handles 13 includes two fingerflaps 94, each respectively formed by a respective curved cut line 96and foldably attached to the respective side panel 22, 30 at arespective longitudinal fold line 98. The handles 13 could include otherfeatures for carrying the carrier 5, any of the finger flaps 94 could beomitted or could be otherwise positioned, shaped, configured, and/orarranged, or one or both of the handles 13 could be omitted from thecarrier without departing from the disclosure.

As shown in FIG. 3, the carrier 5 can be erected by wrapping the blank 3around the containers C and interlocking the first and second bottompanels 26, 34 to form the package 7. Particularly, the containers C canbe arranged into the staggered, nested arrangement of the two outer rowsR1, R3 of three containers C each and one inner row R2 of two containersC. The blank 3 can be positioned in relation to the arranged containersC so that each of the top openings 9 is generally aligned with arespective one of the containers C. The blank 3 and/or the containers Ccan be moved so that the blank 3 and the containers C are moved togetherand at least the upper portions N of the containers C are received inthe respective top openings 9. The side panels 22, 30 can be downwardlyfolded along the fold lines 24, 32, and the top bevel panels 46, 49 canfold along the respective fold lines 47, 48 and 50, 51 to at leastpartially accommodate the shoulders of the containers C in the outerrows R1, R3.

In one embodiment, as the bottom panels 26, 34 are folded inwardlytoward one another, the bottoms B of the containers C in the outer rowsR1, R3 can be at least partially received in the respective corneropenings 66 to engage the respective retention tabs 64. Also, while thebottom panels 26, 34 are folded along lateral fold lines 28, 36, thebottom bevel panels 38, 42 can fold along the respective fold lines 40,41 and 44, 45 to extend obliquely between the side panels 22, 30 and theremainder of the bottom panels 26, 34. As shown in FIGS. 3-6, the cornerretainers 74 can be folded inwardly to position the gusset panels 80, 84in face-to-face contact with one another and to tuck in the gussetpanels 80, 84 between the respective bottom panel 26, 34 and the bottomB of a respectively adjacent container C (FIGS. 5 and 6) so that therespective retention panel 76 extends over a portion of an end of thecarrier 5 (FIGS. 4 and 5). Accordingly, the retention tabs 64 and thecorner openings 66 can help retain the respective containers C in theouter rows R1, R3 in place adjacent the respective side panels 22, 30,and the corner retainers 74 can help retain the containers C at the endsof the outer rows R1, R3 adjacent the open ends 6, 8 of the carrier 5.

In the illustrated embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the secondbottom panel 34 is secured to the first bottom panel 26 by first foldingthe second bottom panel 34 along the lateral fold line 60 to at leastpartially separate the primary male locking tabs 54 from the secondbottom panel 34 and respectively engaging the primary male locking tabs54 with the primary female locking edges 52 (FIGS. 4 and 5). Thesecondary male locking flaps 58 are respectively inserted through, andcooperatively interact with, the slits 56 to further secure the secondbottom panel 34 to the first bottom panel 26. The interlocked bottompanels 26, 34 cooperate to form a bottom panel 99 of the carrier 5. Thecarrier 5 could be erected and/or the package 7 could be formed byalternative steps without departing from the disclosure.

In one embodiment, one or both of the handles 13 can be actuated byfolding the finger flaps 94 inwardly along the respective fold lines 98for grasping the respective side panel 22, 30 at the respective openingsformed therein. The package 7 could be otherwise carried withoutdeparting from the disclosure.

In the illustrated embodiment, the nested arrangement of the containerscan help the wrap-style carrier 5 to hold the containers in the threerows R1, R2, R3. For example, the nested configuration can allow thecontainers in the outer rows R1, R3 to retain the containers in theinner row R2 in the interior of the carrier. The containers C adjacentthe ends of the carrier 5 in the outer rows R1, R3 interfere with thecontainers in the inner row R2 so that containers in the inner row wouldhave to push past the outer, end containers to be forced out of thecarrier prior to intended removal. The containers in the outer rows arefurther retained by retention tabs 64, the corner openings 66, and thecorner retainers 74. Accordingly, while the containers C in the innerrow R2 are spaced from the side panels 22, 30 and the retention features11, they are at least partially retained by the respective top openings9 in the top panel 20 and the respectively nested containers C in theouter rows R1, R3. In one embodiment, a non-nested inner row in analternative carrier with more than two rows will generally fail. Forexample, it can be more difficult to retain the containers in the innerrow if they are not nested with and retained by the containers in theouter row. If one or more containers is unintendedly removed from (e.g.,falls out of) the alternative carrier, the alternative carrier couldcollapse, some or all of the containers could fall out of thealternative carrier, and/or the alternative carrier could otherwisefail. Additionally, the nested arrangement of the containers C can begenerally narrower than an arrangement with aligned rows that are notnested, and the amount of material added to the blank 3 to include thethird row (e.g., the inner row) is less than would be required if thecontainers were arranged in three non-nested rows. Further, the carrier5 can be more noticeable on a shelf by having a different look thanother cartons and carriers, in one embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of an exterior surface 202 of a blank 203 forforming a carrier (not shown) according to a second embodiment of thedisclosure. The second embodiment is generally similar to the firstembodiment, except for variations noted and variations that will beapparent to one of ordinary skill in the art. Accordingly, similar oridentical features of the embodiments have been given like or similarreference numbers. As shown in FIG. 7, the blank 203 includesalternative bottom retention features 211 wherein the corner retainers74 of the first embodiment are omitted, and the retention tabs 264 aregenerally larger so that the openings are substantially closed prior tothe formation of the package (not shown). Accordingly, the retentiontabs 264 are separable from one another along respective longitudinalcut lines 267 and from the respective side panels 222, 230 and therespective bottom panels 226, 234 along respective lateral cut lines269. Each of the retention tabs 264 can be connected to the respectiveside panels 222, 230 and the respective bottom panels 226, 234 along twooblique fold lines 268 in one embodiment. Additionally, each of theretention tabs 264 can include a V-shaped fold 270. As shown in FIG. 7,the lateral fold lines 228, 236 can be interrupted by the bottomretention features 211, and the fold lines 40, 41, 44, 46 of the firstembodiment can be omitted so that the bottom bevel panels 38, 42 of thefirst embodiment are not included in the blank 203. The side panels 222,230 of the second embodiment can include cutouts 215 at each end for atleast partially accommodating the shape of the containers C.Alternatively, the edges of the side panels 222, 230 could have adifferent shape to correspond to a different container shape or toreflect a particular logo, or the edges could be straight. The blank 203could be otherwise shaped, arranged, and/or configured without departingfrom the disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of an exterior surface 402 of a blank 403 forforming a carrier (not shown) according to a third embodiment of thedisclosure. The third embodiment is generally similar to the secondembodiment, except for variations noted and variations that will beapparent to one of ordinary skill in the art. Accordingly, similar oridentical features of the embodiments have been given like or similarreference numbers. As shown in FIG. 8, the blank 403 has differentlocking features for interlocking the bottom panels 426, 434. The secondbottom panel 434 can include three secondary locking tabs 458 that aregenerally aligned with the respective primary locking tabs 454. Thefirst bottom panel 426 can include an inner primary female locking edge452 a and an inner slit 456 a for receiving the respective inner primarymale locking tab 454 and inner secondary male locking tab 458.Additionally, the first bottom panel 426 can include outer primaryfemale locking edges 452 b and outer secondary female locking edges 456b adjacent a respective opening 455. An outer retention tab 457 can befoldably connected to the first bottom panel 426 along a respectivelongitudinal fold line 459 and can include respective curved folds 461.Accordingly, when the outer primary male locking tabs 454 engage therespective outer primary female locking edges 452 b and the outersecondary male locking tabs 458 engage the respective outer secondaryfemale locking edges 456 b, the respective outer retention tabs 457 arefolded inwardly into the interior of the carrier (not shown) to engageand/or to help retain a respectively adjacent container C. Any of thelocking features of the bottom panels 426, 434 could be omitted or couldbe otherwise shaped, arranged, positioned, and/or configured withoutdeparting from the disclosure. Additionally, the blank 403 could beotherwise shaped, arranged, and/or configured without departing from thedisclosure.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of an exterior surface 602 of a blank 603 forforming a carrier (not shown) according to a fourth embodiment of thedisclosure. The fourth embodiment is generally similar to the thirdembodiment, except for variations noted and variations that will beapparent to one of ordinary skill in the art. Accordingly, similar oridentical features of the embodiments have been given like or similarreference numbers. As shown in FIG. 9, the blank 603 includes sidepanels 22, 30 with generally straight free edges similar or identical tothe first embodiment (FIG. 1), retention features 211 in the first sidepanel 22 and the first bottom panel 426 that are similar to the secondembodiment (FIG. 7), and locking features for interlocking the bottompanels 426, 434 similar or identical to the third embodiment (FIG. 8).Additionally, the blank 603 can include bottom retention features 611 inthe second side panel 30 and the second bottom panel 434. The bottomretention features 611 can include retention tabs 264 similar to thosein the second embodiment (FIG. 7) and corner retainers 74 similar tothose in the first embodiment (FIGS. 1 and 2). As shown in FIG. 9, theretention flaps 264 of the retention features 211, 611 are generally thesame as the retention flaps 264 of the blanks 203, 403 of the second andthird embodiments except that the retention flaps in the blank 603 arerelatively smaller than the retention flaps 264 of the blanks 203, 403.The blank 603 could be otherwise shaped, arranged, and/or configuredwithout departing from the disclosure.

Any of the features of the various embodiments of the disclosure can becombined with, replaced by, or otherwise configured with other featuresof other embodiments of the disclosure without departing from the scopeof this disclosure. Further, it is noted that the retention featuresand/or the container configurations of the various embodiments can beincorporated into a carton or carrier having any carton style or panelconfiguration. The carrier styles and panel configurations describedabove are included by way of example. Additionally, the shapes of theretention features can be substantially any shape. The shapes describedabove and included in the figures are included by way of example.

In general, the blanks according to the present disclosure can beconstructed from paperboard having a caliper so that it is heavier andmore rigid than ordinary paper. The blanks can also be constructed ofother materials, such as cardboard, or any other material havingproperties suitable for enabling the carton to function at leastgenerally as described above. The blanks can be coated with, forexample, a clay coating. The clay coating may then be printed over withproduct, advertising, and other information or images. The blanks maythen be coated with a varnish to protect information printed on theblanks. The blanks may also be coated with, for example, a moisturebarrier layer, on either or both sides of the blanks. The blanks canalso be laminated to or coated with one or more sheet-like materials atselected panels or panel sections.

In accordance with the exemplary embodiments, a fold line can be anysubstantially linear, although not necessarily straight, form ofweakening that facilitates folding therealong. More specifically, butnot for the purpose of narrowing the scope of the present disclosure,fold lines include: a score line, such as lines formed with a bluntscoring knife, or the like, which creates a crushed or depressed portionin the material along the desired line of weakness; a cut that extendspartially into a material along the desired line of weakness, and/or aseries of cuts that extend partially into and/or completely through thematerial along the desired line of weakness; and various combinations ofthese features. In situations where cutting is used to create a foldline, typically the cutting will not be overly extensive in a mannerthat might cause a reasonable user to incorrectly consider the fold lineto be a tear line.

The above embodiments may be described as having one or more panelsadhered together by glue during erection of the carton embodiments. Theterm “glue” is intended to encompass all manner of adhesives commonlyused to secure carton panels in place.

The foregoing description of the disclosure illustrates and describesvarious exemplary embodiments. Various additions, modifications,changes, etc., could be made to the exemplary embodiments withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. It is intendedthat all matter contained in the above description or shown in theaccompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense. Additionally, the disclosure shows and describes onlyselected embodiments of the disclosure, but the disclosure is capable ofuse in various other combinations, modifications, and environments andis capable of changes or modifications within the scope of the inventiveconcept as expressed herein, commensurate with the above teachings,and/or within the skill or knowledge of the relevant art. Furthermore,certain features and characteristics of each embodiment may beselectively interchanged and applied to other illustrated andnon-illustrated embodiments of the disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of forming a package comprising:obtaining a plurality of articles; obtaining a blank comprising aplurality of panels, the plurality of panels comprising at least a toppanel, a first side panel foldably connected to the top panel, a secondside panel foldably connected to the top panel, and a bottom panelfoldably connected to at least one of the first side panel and thesecond side panel; arranging the articles of the plurality of articlesin at least a first row, a second row, and a third row, the first rowand the third row comprising at least one more article than the secondrow; positioning the articles in the second row to be nested with thearticles in the first row and the third row; forming a carrier from theblank by wrapping the plurality of panels at least partially around theplurality of articles, the carrier having a first open end and a secondopen end, a first end article of the first row is disposed adjacent thefirst open end, a first end article of the third row is disposedadjacent the first open end, a first end article of the second row isspaced inward from the first open end in an interior of the package, thepositioning the articles in the second row to be nested with thearticles in the first row and the third row comprises positioning thearticles so that a bottom portion of the first end article of the firstrow and a bottom portion of the first end article of the third row arepositioned relative to a bottom portion of the first end article in thesecond row to retain the first end article of the second row in thecarrier and prevent removal of the first end article of the second rowthrough the first open end.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein theforming the carrier comprises engaging the top panel with top portionsof the articles of the plurality of articles and folding the first sidepanel with respect to the top panel to position the first side paneladjacent the articles in the first row, the articles in the second rowbeing spaced from the first side panel by the articles in the first row.3. The method of claim 2, wherein the forming the carrier comprisesfolding the second side panel with respect to the top panel to positionthe second side panel adjacent the articles in the third row, thearticles in the second row being spaced from the second side panel bythe articles in the third row.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein theblank further comprises a plurality of article receiver featuresdisposed in at least the top panel, and the forming the carriercomprises positioning the top panel relative to the articles of theplurality of articles so that each article receiver feature of theplurality of article receiver features at least partially receives a topportion of a respective article of the plurality of articles.
 5. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the blank further comprises a retentionfeature extending in at least one of the first side panel, the secondside panel, and the bottom panel, and the forming the carrier furthercomprising positioning the at least one of the first side panel, thesecond side panel, and the bottom panel so that the retention feature atleast partially retains one of the end article in the first row and theend article of the third row.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein theforming the carrier from the blank comprises forming the retentionfeature into a corner retainer that at least partially retains the oneof the first end article of the first row and the first end article ofthe third row.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the corner retainercomprises a retention panel foldably connected to at least one of thefirst side panel, the second side panel, and the bottom panel, a firstgusset panel foldably connected to the retention panel, and a secondgusset panel foldably connected to the first gusset panel and to thebottom panel, the retention panel extending at least partially over thefirst open end of the carrier.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein theforming the carrier comprises positioning the first gusset panel and thesecond gusset panel at least partially in face-to-face contact with oneanother and at least partially disposed between the bottom panel and theone of first end article of the first row and the first end article ofthe third row.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality ofarticles comprises three articles in the first row, two articles in thesecond row, and three articles in the third row.
 10. The method of claim1, wherein each article in the second row is nested in an at leastpartially staggered arrangement so that the containers in the second roware generally offset from the containers in the first row and thecontainers in the third row.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein at theopen end of the carrier, the width between the first side panel and thesecond side panel is less than a maximum width of three articles of theplurality of articles.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein each of thebottom portion of the end article in the first row and the bottomportion of the end article of the second row contact and overlap thebottom portion of the end article in the second row to restrict movementof the end article in the second row through the open end.